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CHINA.
The quantities and value of the imports of British and Irish produce and manu. factures into Japan, in the year 1868, were as follows:-
Imports of British Home Produce into Japan.
Quantities.
Value.
£
Apparel and haberdashery...........
Falue
10,870
Arms and ammunition
وو
89,090
Beer and Ale.
Barrels
1,962
8,426
*****
Coals, cinders, and culm................
Tons
30,109
18,051
Lbs.
4,302,110
Cotton yarn
267,205
Cottons, entered by the yard..........
Yards!
22,834,439
396,204
Iron, wrought and unwrought..
Tons
2,682
21,174
992
Lead and shot....
25,211
Machinery and Millwork.....
Linens, entered by the yard........
Yards
68,019
2,623
Value
10,371
Soap............
...Cwts
1,194
1,918
Value
Tin Plates..............
1,331
Woollens, entered by the yard
Yards
3,682,239
206,976
All other articles........
Value
53,354
Total.......
1,112,804
The internal trade of Japan is very extensive, and a variety of regulations are in force, the object of which is to protect and encourage home industry. The prices of goods are not enhanced by imports of any kind; and communication between the great markets and all parts of the empire is facilitated by numerous coasting vessels and well-maintained roads. Foreign commerce, however, so far from being encouraged, is vigorously opposed by the Government. Nevertheless, by the treaties made with several European Governments-with the United States in March, 1854; with Great Britain in October 1854; with Russia and the Netherlands in 1855; with France in 1859; with Portugal in 1860; with Prussia and the Zollverein in 1861; with Swit- zerland in 1864; with Italy in 1866; and with Denmark in 1867-the six Japanese ports of Nagasaki, Kanagawa, Niegata, Hiogo, Osaka, and Hakodadi where thrown open to foreign commerce.
Money, Weights, and Measures.
The money, weights, and measures in common use at the three open ports of
Japan, and the British equivalents, are:-
The Ichibu (silver), average rate of exchange.
Riu or Tael
Koban (gold)
""
"
4ld.
•
..18. 4 d.
•
.58. 10d.
.......£1 98. 2d.
The Chinese system of taking money only for its strict metal value, and using it indiscriminately, either whole or in pieces, obtains also in Japan; but, unlike the Chinese, the Japanese have national coins. They are made of iron, copper, silver and gold, and an alloy of gold and silver, and are of different shapes-rectangular, square, circular, and oval. There is also a paper currency, consisting of bank-notes of one? quarter, one-half, and one Koban.
Weights and Measures.
The Picul, or Tơn........
""
"}
King = 160 nomme Shaku 10 sung Ri 36 choo....
.. •
[
133 lbs, avoirdupois.
14
""
11 inches.
2 miles.
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